Courtney Gerver, Ph.D.
I am a mixed-methods researcher with over a decade of experience leveraging a diverse set of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. In my current role as a Technology Innovation Researcher, I use this expertise to translate the Voice of the Associate into data-driven evidence that informs product decisions and behavioral KPIs.
Over my tenure, I’ve had the ability to work on a wide range of projects. I’ve applied data-driven, design-thinking principles to projects scaling from mobile applications to large-scale websites. I’ve also generated insights from participants ranging from 6-94, which have included individuals from the general population to specialty, harder-to-recruit professions.
With an academic background in cognitive psychology, especially as it relates to older adults aged 65+, I am uniquely equipped with a deep understanding of memory, creativity, attention, and problem-solving. This understanding has equipped me with the tools to understand user behaviors, motivations, and pain points.
I am committed to accessible research and design and actively participate in opportunities to advance product usage for all. When not aiming to push the boundaries of user research, I enjoy curling, hiking, and quilting.
Experience
CONSULTANT, TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION RESEARCHER
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.
Remote, Pennsylvania, USA
- Conduct in-depth research to uncover pain points and unmet needs of associates, translating the Voice of the Associate into data-driven evidence that informs product decisions and behavioral KPIs
- Partner with cross-functional Product, Design, Operations, and Technology teams to lead impactful mixed-methods research initiatives that shape enterprise strategy and drive measurable business outcomes
- Adapt research strategies to address evolving business needs and opportunities, including the responsible adoption, capability prioritization, and enterprise-wide scaling of generative and agentic AI
- Promote the value of research by embedding a behavioral metrics ecosystem across product roadmaps, executive planning, experience maps, and operational reviews to establish data-driven insights as a strategic foundation across 30+ projects
- Transform insights into compelling stories for diverse audiences, balancing a portfolio of projects while hosting a monthly enterprise-wide broadcast that synthesizes findings into a unified narrative guiding technology adoption
SPECIALIST, UX RESEARCHER
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.
Remote, Pennsylvania, USA
- Conduct end-to-end research to better understand current and future customers, drive product development, inform key business decisions, and improve customer retention
- Deliver data-driven insights and recommendations representing 1,000+ participants across qualitative and mixed-methods studies to key stakeholders, marketing, and company associates via presentation and internal documentation
- Foster cross-functional collaboration to ensure user-centered insights and design principles are incorporated into key product decisions
- Implement human-centered practices in key technologies such as mobile phones, generative AI, and blockchain
- Present research projects outside of primary product research to associate communities of practice
GRADUATE RESEARCH SCIENTIST
Penn State University
University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- Independently planned, conducted, analyzed, and visualized mixed-methods research data from 17 research projects to examine the neurobiological basis of cognition
- Communicated research findings in 10 empirical research publications, 15 conference presentations, and 3 public community talks with collaborators, project stakeholders, and the general public.
- Collected primary and secondary data from 13,500+ online and in-person participants using behavioral experiments, surveys, and fMRI
- Managed multiple multi-site research teams totaling 20+ undergraduate researchers while providing mentorship for career development
- Created open-sourced data processing scripts to increase lab efficiency and quality control
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research
Orangeburg, New York, USA
- Collected and input behavioral, MRI, VO2 max, genetic, and wearable physiological device data into collaborative data sharing software
- Assisted with community outreach and recruitment: street fair booth representation, cold-emailing, and flyer creation
- Directly supported professional research scientists and clinicians with daily tasks
Professional Skills
Research Methodology
- In-depth interviews
- Usability testing
- Concept testing
- Contextual inquiry
- Survey design
- Heuristic evaluation
- Focus groups
- Diary studies
- Competitive analysis
Data Management
- Qualitative analyses
- Quantitative analyses
- Cleaning
- Visualization
- Mining
- Version Control
- Written Reports
Tools
- UserTesting
- UserInterviews
- Figma
- Miro
- Google Suite
- Microsoft Suite
- R
- SPSS
- Github
- Qualtrics
Education
Ph.D., Cognitive Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University (State College, PA)
M.S., Cognitive Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University (State College, PA)
B.S., Psychology, St. Thomas Aquinas College (New York, NY)
Visiting Scholar, University of Oxford (Oxford, England)
Personal Projects
Social Media Strategist
Pittsburgh Curling Club - Communications Committee
In my free time, I enjoy curling and bringing the world of curling to others through social media. I'm on a social media team devoted to curating and posting content promoting our club.
Graduate School Application Resource List
A graduate school application resource list to be shared with individuals from underrepresented or first-generation backgrounds to increase application transparency for all.